City Transport Simulator 2026 fixes the version chaos! No more “Excel sheet of doom”?

Long-time players of City Transport Simulator might remember something that became almost legendary in the community: the infamous “Excel sheet of doom.” With many versions and DLC combinations, new players sometimes had no idea which version they actually needed. Now ViewApp and N-Play are trying to fix that. With City Transport Simulator 2026, the system becomes much simpler: there will be only two editions for new players. Important: this change does not affect existing players, who will still receive CTS 2026 as a free upgrade.

City Transport Simulator 2026, scheduled for release on April 14, not only brings new features but also a new structure for people entering the simulator for the first time. In the past, the many different versions could feel confusing. It sometimes looked like a maze where players were unsure which package they actually needed. That is exactly what the developers want to change.

For new players, the simulator will now be available in two editions: Starter Edition and Expert Edition. Think of it like a transport company starting with a small fleet and then expanding to a larger depot with more vehicles.

The Starter Edition costs €39.99 and allows players to drive both buses and trams. It includes several vehicles such as the MAN Lion’s City A21 in two- and three-door versions, the NL205, as well as articulated buses like the MAN Lion’s City A23 and the NG235. The package also includes tram models like the ULF A1, ULF B1 and the R2.2b.

The Expert Edition costs €59.99 and adds even more content. Alongside everything in the Starter Edition, players also get additional vehicles such as the MAN New Lion’s City 12C and the articulated buses MAN New Lion’s City 18C and 19C. Additional trams are included as well, including the Flexity Vienna and the StadtRegioTram. On top of that, the Expert Edition includes the Tram & Bus Depot with the South-Route DLC and the Basel Style cosmetic pack.

Players who start with the Starter Edition can later upgrade using the CTS 2026 Expert Upgrade Pack for €29.99, making the transition easy and flexible.

The most important point, however, is this: these editions only apply to new players. Anyone who already owns the current City Transport Simulator will receive CTS 2026 as a free upgrade, including DLC compatibility and savegame support.

In other words, the developers are trying to achieve two goals at once: making the simulator much easier to understand for newcomers, while still respecting the investment of existing players.

And maybe this finally means the end of the legendary “Excel sheet of doom.”

Link to Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4148530/Ci…Simulator_2026/

Do you remember the “Excel spreadsheet of death” from CTS? Do you find two editions easier to navigate than many versions? Would you rather choose the Starter Edition or the Expert Edition? Are you already playing City Transport Simulator? Which is more important to you: buses or trams?